Anyone who has their own kitchen has picked up some gadget they thought would be a game changer. They religiously use it for a week or two and then it’s forgotten because the novelty wears off. That's exactly what happened with our SodaStream Terra.
Because our parent company is in broadcasting and publishing, brands often send promotional items in hopes of getting airtime on the radio or some kind of mention across its properties. Everything from kitchen appliances to vacuums to toys to pet supplies finds its way to the team -- always free of charge.
While the company never commits to promoting any product or service unless it's paid advertising, we're free to say and do what we please with the items.
A SodaStream kit showed up a few months ago and appeared on the counter in our kitchen. We'd all heard of it but never tried it before. With several bottles of flavor liquids included, we had some fun making different drinks.
Our team generally has a focus on fitness so sugary drinks (Coke, Pepsi, etc.) don't usually make their way into our fridge. They'll appear from time to time if we're having pizza night or something social but they're not regularly on our shopping lists.
Initially, we thought SodaStream was a device that needed to be plugged in. We thought it worked like a blender that required some kind of power. It doesn't. Our model doesn't, anyway. Since we couldn't find a power cord, we looked for a place to insert batteries, believing it was battery operated. It's not. Instead, we opened the back to find where a CO2 canister is inserted. That's what “powers” this device. It was easy to twist the canister into place and apply the back cover to maintain its position on the counter where it stayed for three months.
Instructions came with the appliance so we made sure to read exactly how it should be operated. The first time we made ginger ale, it had a different taste compared to national brands sold in cans and bottles at the store. It wasn't as fizzy. It didn't seem as carbonated. Did it taste bad? At first, we weren't sure. It seemed flat-ish but it wasn't. We learned that's sort of the idea of SodaStream. It offers less-sugar and less-burp beverages for users.
We made the same mistake twice while figuring out our SodaStream. The instructions indicate that you fill the included plastic bottle with water, then attach it to the machine for the carbonation. Only after that step, do you add the flavor liquid. Twice we added the flavor into the bottle before screwing it into place for the carbonation process. The instructions note that only water should be in the bottle when using the appliance.
Part of SodaStream's charm -- the way it's marketed, at least -- is that it'll save you money in the long run. So, did it? For us, not really. Again, this is sort of a novelty product because we don't drink the types of beverages this machine is used for. If we do get a craving for a root beer, for instance, it's cheaper to run to the store and pay $2 for a bottle.
The CO2 canister lasted us for three months. For flavor liquid, we went through a couple dozen bottles. Keep in mind, because this was a promotional item, we got a bunch free. For the regular consumer, they range between $7 and $9 each. We eventually bought some and after tallying up the costs, there wasn't much of a saving compared to buying individual bottles of the drinks we made.
When factoring in the cost of a SodaStream device (an initial investment of anywhere between $50 and $200 depending on the model and/or kit), the flavor bottles ($7-$9 each) and CO2 replacement canister (around $40) the spend makes sense if you're really, really, really into beverages. If you're someone who has a fizzy drink from time to time, you're wasting your money.
All in all, it was fun using our SodaStream for the few months that we tried it, but once the C02 ran out and nobody felt the need to rush out and get another one, it was a "meh, let's put it away in the cupboard and never look at it again" product.
Complaints about it? None, operationally. It's fun to use. Price wise, it's not worth it for our group to continue using.